Nativis Inc. announced today that Richard Henriques has been appointed to the company’s board of directors. Nativis Inc. is a clinical-stage life science bioelectronics company developing noninvasive, safe and highly effective treatments for cancers and other serious diseases.
Henriques is an experienced financial executive with an extensive background in the large capitalization pharmaceutical, early-stage biotechnology and nonprofit industries. He served as Chief Financial Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2010 to 2014. During his tenure, Henriques helped guide the foundation through a critical growth phase. During that phase, Henriques helped to redesign the financial structure of the organization, close a $100 million global healthcare investment fund, and build the new leadership team, all of which have been critical to the foundation’s success. Prior to joining the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Henriques spent 27 years at Merck & Company where he served in key financial positions including Senior Vice President of Finance, and Vice President and Corporate Controller. He managed all aspects of Merck’s financial operations for a new $20 billion division and was also responsible for the company’s financial planning and reporting.
Henriques currently sits on the board of Arbutus Biopharma, an early-stage biopharmaceutical company; The Franklin Institute, a premier science education and development institution and The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania chapter. He holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School and a Bachelor of Arts in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
“We are very excited to welcome Richard to Nativis’ board of directors,” said Chris Rivera, Chief Executive Officer of Nativis. “His extensive financial and industry experience, spanning more than three decades, will play a vital role in our company’s growth and success.”
“It is an honor to join Nativis’ diverse board of scientific and executive leaders. I believe that the company’s technology presents a unique opportunity for the treatment of cancers and other serious diseases,” said Henriques. “As the company advances and further develops its technology, I look forward to leveraging my experience from the Gates Foundation and Merck to help guide Nativis to a successful future.”
“We look forward to the support Richard will offer to our board and the guidance he will provide to the company’s strategic direction,” said Rivera. “His world class financial expertise will give us the security and counsel that we need as we continue the rapid development of the Nativis Voyager® system into a robust multi-indication platform technology.”
Henriques’ appointment to the board is effective immediately.
About Nativis, Inc.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Seattle, Wash., Nativis is a clinical-stage, bioelectronics company. Nativis invented and patented groundbreaking technology that uses precisely targeted, ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE™) to specifically regulate metabolic pathways on the molecular and genetic levels without chemicals, radiation or drugs. The ulRFE™ therapy is delivered via a simple-to-use noninvasive device called Nativis Voyager®. The company’s goal is to transform disease treatment on a global scale. The ulRFE™ therapy potentially can be applied to a wide range of conditions and other health-related needs including agriculture, bio-fuels and veterinary medicine, to name a few. Nativis’ initial focus is treating patients with brain cancer (initially, recurrent glioblastoma), who are not well served by conventional standard of care therapies which often result in poor outcomes and devastating side effects. Additional preclinical work is being completed for melanoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, inflammatory disease and chronic pain. Find Nativis online at www.nativis.com.